FanPost

Why drafting Austin Rivers makes sense for the Celtics

It has been an up and down playoff run for the Celtics. They beat Atlanta and they beat the Sixers. They took the Miami Heat to 7 games before finally falling. It was a great run but it looks like this is the end of an era. So where does Danny Ainge go with the future of the Celtics?

I see huge changes on the horizon. And the biggest change will be the future of the Celtics at Point Guard. Austin Rivers is that future. Why? Austin is Doc's own son. Austin is leaving college early to enter the draft. He is projected to go in the 10-20 range. The Celtics have two 1st round picks. It is a no-brainer for the Celtics to move up and nab the younger Rivers and set him as the new face of the franchise.

Why go for an unproven talent at PG? Simple, Austin Rivers is not unproven. Not to his father, he is a KNOWN quantity. Not to mention that right now Rondo is the Celtics BIGGEST trade chip. Why not get younger at PG, and acquire another superstar talent to the roster? Rondo's value cannot be any higher after you consider his magnificent playoff performance this year. In particular his 44 point explosion against the Heat that nearly won us the game and would have won the series.

Why else do I believe that Austin Rivers is a future celitc? Because he has a guarantee from another team that if he slips out of the lottery, they will draft him. Wouldn't a team with two 1st round picks like the Celtics be able to make that type of promise and keep it?

So here is how I see draft night unfolding. Austin Rivers slips to about pick 15, a trade is announced, and he is now wearing Celtic laundry. The Celtics later announce they are trading Rajon Rondo for player. The Celtics then draft the best available big with their second 1st round pick.

I also see Ray Allen being let go first. Then resigned at a much lower salary. Avery Bradley is our future at SG. Paul Pierce will return. KG MIGHT return. But again at a reduced rate. The Celtics will be all about creating cap space over the summer to sign one huge free agent target. Who that is remains to be seen. But the transition from Rondo to Austin Rivers just makes sense. You give up a big talent, but you get a big talent in return who helps your team. You get a PG who has been groomed all his life to be a pro. It just makes too much sense not to happen.

Get your popcorn ready! The Celtics will be making some serious moves at and around the 2012 NBA draft and Austin Rivers will be one of them.

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